Control apparatus and system



Aug. 5', 1924; 1,503,717

v v. SMITH CONTROL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1920 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WITNESiES. w 5 22 m j -ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1924.

- W. H. SMITH CONTROL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM -Filed June 5, 1920 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR wiiezyxfimfi BY WITNESSES:

' ATTO'RNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H. SMITH, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC 86 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS AND SYSTEM.

Application filed June 3, 1920. Serial No. 386,196.

To all whom it may COncern:

Be it known that I, WALTER H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, anda residentof lVilkinsbur in th county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ControlApparatus and Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and systems for governingdynamo-electric machines and it has special relation to the control ofelectric railway motors and the like under various acceleratingconditions.

One object of my invention is to provide a combination relay deviceembodying a plurality of coils acting upon a single core, certain of thecoils being concentrically related, while another is disposed inendto-end relation thereto. Another object of my invention is toprovide, in conjunction with the above-mentioned core and actuatingcoils, an independent coil for acting upon a core that is looselycoupled with the first-mentioned core, whereby various controloperations are governed by a relay device that is compact and regular inform and which has a minimum number of parts.

Viewed from another angle, it is an object of my invention. to provide acombined notching and limit relay device; that is, a relay devicewhereby step-by-step movement of a power-operated drum controller may beeffected undereme-rgency conditions, whereas, during normal operation,such intermittent movement of the controller is effected through theagency of a current coil that is connected in circuit with the motor ormotors to be governed. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of controlembodying my relay device whereby certain advantageous operatingfeatures may inherently be obtained, as subsequently set forth indetail.

My invention may best be understoodby reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, partially in side elevation andpartially in section, of a relay device constructed in accordanc with mypresent invention Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the device;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the main circuits of a system ofcontrol to which my relay device is applied;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic vie-w of the auxiliary governing circuits forthe system shown in Fig. 3, including certain actuating coils of myrelay device; and

Fig. 5 is asequence chart of well-known form, indicating the preferredorder of operation of the switches shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2-, the apparatus here shown comprises asuitable supporting base or slab 1 upon which is mounted a compound-coildevice'Q embodying a plurality of concentric-ally wound smallwire orvoltage coils 3a and 3b and another small-wire coil 4 that is disposedin end to -end relation to those coils. A further actuating or currentcoil 5 is located in substantial alinement with, and at the opposite endof the base 1 from the coil device 2, the complete set of actuatingcoils being adapted to actuate a plurality of movable con-tact membersor disks 6, as subsequently set forth in detail.

A supporting yoke or U-shaped bracket 10 is adapted to extend across theend faces of the coil device 2, being suitably fastened to the base 1..A stationary core member or magnetiZa-ble cylinder 11 has its upper endsecured within an aperture in the upper arm of the bracket 10, while asecond and mov able core member 12, which is attached to a pin or rod13, is alined with the core member 11. The rod 13 extends through thetwo core members 11 and 12 and beyond both arms of the bracket 10. Theupper end of the rod 13 terminates in an upset or enlarged head it,which operates in conjunction with a short helical spring 15 to supportthe weight of the rod 13 and the various parts that are attachedthereto.

The actuating coil 366 is wound around the lower portion of thstationary core member 11 and somewhat more than one-half of the movablecore member 12. The actuating coil 31) is concentrically wound aroundthe actuating coil 8a. The coil l encloses the remaining or lowerportion ofthe movable core 12, is located in end-to-end relation to thetwo coils 3c and 3b and has a diameter substantially equal to the outerdiameter of the coil 36. Consequently, the coil device 2 issubstantially cylindrical in form, which is advantageous in the matterof manufacture and assembly.

A movable contact member or disk 16 is mounted upon an insulatii'ig hubor spool 16a which loosely encloses the rod 13 below the coil device 2.The insulating hub 16a is normally held in the illustrated position bymeans of a plurality of short helical springs 17 and 18, the outer endsof which bear against collars or enlarged portions 19 and. 20 on the rod13. I

A second movable contact member or disk is mounted upon an insulatinghub 2560 which loosely surrounds the lower portion of the rod 13, beingheld in the illustrated position by means of an upset or enlarged head26 at the lower end of the rod.

Referring to the stationary contact members, a bar or contact strip 27is secured to the base 1 below the coil device 2, the inner end beingbent into L-shape and being pro vided with a downwardly bent prong orfinger 29. A similar contact strip 28 having an upwardly bent prong orfinger 30 is located just below, and in alinement with, the contactmembers 27 and 29, respectively. On the opposite side of the rod 13,contact members 3'1 and 33, corresponding to cont-act members 27 and 29,and 32 and 3t, corresponding to 28 and 30, are likewise provided. Thenormal position of the contact disk 16 is midway between the pairs ofcontact fingers 29 and 33, and 30 and 3 1, as illustrated.

Another contact bar 35, similar to the con tact member 27, is disposedbelow the contact member 28 and is connected thereto by means of a baror strip 36. A contact pin or rod 38 is fastened to the inner L-shapedend of the contact strip and the movable contact disk 25 normallytouches or rests upon the pin 38.

A symmetrical arrangement of contact members 37, 39 and 10 is providedon the opposite side of the rod 13. In this way, it will be seen that,normally, the contact disk 25 makes electrical contact with the pins 38and 10. I

The upper end of a sleeve AC5 loosely enclosesthe lower head 26 of therod 13 and extends substantially as far as the insulating hub 25a whenthe contact disk 25 occupies its illustrated normal posit-ion. Looselyenclosing the sleeve 15 is a hollow stationary core member 16 which isheld in position by one arm of a bracket 4'? for supporting the entirecoil device 5. A bolt 48 passes through one side 19 of the bracket 47and rigidly positions the stationary core member 16, as illustrated.

to bridge the contact fingers 30 and 3e.

However, if the coil 3a is concurrently energized, by reason of therelative positions and sizes of the coils 3a and 1 with respect to themovable core member 12, the combined point of centralized magneticaction is lo-' cated above the magnetic center of the core.Consequently, the core is lifted to its uppermost position to effectbridging of the con tact fingers 29 and 33.

The coil 3?) acts in asimilar manner to the coil 3a in that it combineswith the coil 1 to provide a plane of centralized magnetic action abovethe magnetic center of the core 12, whereby the core is maintained inits uppermost position during concurrent energization of the coils 3band 4.

Upon energization of the coil 5, which is composed of a relatively fewturns of heavy cable or strap, the movable core member 50 is actuatedupwardly to lift the contact disk 25 away from the normally engagedcontact lingers 38 andetO without, however, disturbing the position ofthe other contact disk 16 by reason of the loose mechanical, relationbetween the sleeve 15 and the rod 13.

Referring to Fig. 3, the main circuits here shown comprise suitablesupply-circuit conductors Trolley and Ground; a main dynamo-electricmachine or propelling motor M1 having a commutator-type armature Al anda series field winding F1, a plurality of resistor-short-circuitingswitches R1, R2, R3 and R4 for governing the active circuit value of anaccelerating resistor 59, a line switch LS for connecting the motorcircuit to the supply circuit, and the coil 5 of my relay device.

Although, for the sake of simplicity, 1 have illustrated my invention inconnection with a single propelling motor, it will be understood thatthe field of application of the invention is not so restricted in itsscope and that any well-known type of main-circuit control may beemployed in connection with the use of my relay device.

The auxiliary circuits shown in Fig. 4 comprise the actuating coils ofthe various switches'that are shown in Fi 3, a poweroperated control.device 60 therefor, which is primarily governed by means of a mastercontroller MC, together with a push-button device 61 that is employed inconjunction with certain coils of my relay device to effect emergencyoperation of the system, as about to be set forth. A suitable auxiliarysource of energy, such as a battery B, is provided.

The power-operated control device 60 normally occupies the illustratedposition a and is adapted to be actuated in a step-by step mannerthrough positions I) to e, inclusive, by means of a familiarelectricallycontrolled pneumaticallyoperated actuating mechanismcomprising a pinion 62 that is rigidly secured to the operating shaft 63of the drum controller to mesh with a horizontally movable rack member64:, the opposite ends of which constitute pistons 65 and 66 that travelwithin suitable operating cylinders 67 and 68. A normally closed valve69, having an actuating coil On, is adapted to normally cut off theaccess of fluid pressure from an inlet pipe or passage 70 to theoperating cylinder 67. On the other hand, a normally open valve 71,having an actuating coil Off, is normally in position to permit the flowof-fiuid pressure from an inlet pipe 72 to the operating cylinder 68,thereby biasing the apparatus to the illustrated left-hand position.

The mechanical operation of the actuating mechanism just described maybe set forth as follows. Upon concurrent energizat'ion of the actuatingcoils On and Off, the initially unbalanced fluid-pressure conditions inthe apparatus are reversed, that is, fluid pressure is admitted throughthe valve 69 to the cylinder 67 and is released from the cylinder 68through the valve 71 to the atmosphere. Consequently, a movement of therack 64; towards the right, causing a movement of the control drumtowards the left, is produced.

To arrest such movement at any time, it is merely necessary tols-energize the Off magnet, whereupon balanced high-pressure conditionsobtained in the mechanism and a positive and reliable stoppage thereofis effected.

To produce backward movement of the device, the actuating coils On andOff are concurrently ole-energized, whereupon fluid pressure conditionsin the apparatus revert to the original unbalanced state, and thedesired return movement is effected.

Assuming that the various pieces of con trol apparatus occupy theillustrated positions, the operation of the system may be set forth asfollows. Upon movement of the master controller MO to its initialoperative position a, a circuit is established from the battery Bthrough conductor 75, control fingers 7 6 and 7 7, which are bridged bycontact segment 78 of the master controller, conductor 79, actuatingcoil of the line switch LS, conductor 80 and contact segment 81 of thedrum controller device 60 in its initial operative position a only,

whence circuit is continued through conductors 82 and 83, controlfingers 84: and 85, which are bridged by contact segment 86 of themaster controller, and conductor 87 to the negative battery terminal.

As soon as the line switch LS is closed, a holding circuit for theactuating coil thereof is formed by interlock 88LSin, Which bridgesconductors 80 and 82. In this way, closure of the line switch ismaintained independently of the position of the drum controller 60.

At the same time, another circuit is continued from the conductor 7 9through conductor 90, junction-point 91, conductor 92, control fingers93 and 94, which are bridged by contact segment 95 of the drumcontroller 60, conductor 96, the actuating coil of the switch R andconductors 97 and 98 to the negative conductor 83.

In this way, a series circuit comprising the switches LS and R1, theaccelerating resistor 59, the motor M1 and the actuating coil. 5 of myrelay device is connected across the supply-circuit conductors Trolleyand Ground.

Upon the closure of the line switch LS, another circuit is continuedfrom the junction-point 91, through conductor 100, actuating coil On,conductor 101, interlock l02-LSin and conductor 103 to the negativeconductor 98. However, no movement of the actuating apparatus occurs, byreason of the fact that the other coil, Off, is still deenergized.

To effect movement of the drum controller 60, the master controller isactuated to its final operative position b, whereupon a new circuit isestablished from the contact segment 78 through control finger 105,conductor 106, control fingers 107 and 108, which are bridged by contactsegment 109 of the drum controller, conductor 110, and lower contactdisk 25 of my relay device when it has returned to its lower positionafter the initial rush of accelerating current, whence circuit iscontinued through conductors 111 and 112, actuating coil Off, conductor113, interlock 102LS-in and negative conductor 103.

Since both actuating coils of the driving apparatus for the drumcontroller 60 are now energized, the previously-described movementthereof occurs. This movementis goverened by the contact disk 25 of myrelay device, which intermittently opens and closes the circuit of theOff magnet. In this way, a step-by-step movement of the drum controller60 in accordancewith the current traversing the coil 5, that is, inaccordance with the main-motor current, is produced.

Such movement of the drum controller.

60 through its positions Z), 0, d and 6' effects successive closure ofthe switches R2, R3, R 1 and R1, as will be evident from an inspectionof the contour of the contact segment 95. In this: way, the acceleratingresistor is gradually excluded from. circuit to effect smoothacceleration of the propelling motor M1.

The foregoing description relates to the use of my relay device as alimit switch only. The operation thereof as a notching or emergencyrelay will now be set forth. Under conditions of heavy main-circuitcurrent, such as traveling up a steep grade or starting on a sharpcurve, the tendency of the actuating coil of my relaydevice is tomaintain the contact disk r in its upper or open-circuit position, thuspreventingthe desired progressive movement of the drum controller 60.

To effect such movement under the conditions set forth and stillautomatically prevent more than one ste of control being taken at atime, the pus -button 61 may be depressed, thereby establishing acircuit fronji the positive battery conductor 75 through conductor 115,contact members of the push-button 61, conductor 116,, actuating coil tand conductor 117 to the negative conductor 98. By reason of thepreviouslydescribed construction of the coil device 2, the core member12 is actuated downwardly to bridge the intermediate set of stationarycontact members, designated as 3.0 and 3d in'Fig. 2.

In this way, the contact disk 25, with its cooperating stationarycontact members 38 and 40, are bridged by the closure of a circuit bythe contact disk 16, and the desired energization of the OH coil topermit forward movement of the drum controller is provided.

However, provision must be made for preventing movement of more than onestep of the drum controller 60 even though the puslrbutton 61 ismaintained in its lower or circuit-closing position. This action occursas follows.

In each portion of the drum controller 60 intermediate the pairs ofnotching positions, an upwardly-projecting tongue or contact strip 119a,that is electrically connected to the main contact segment 95, islocated. Consequently, as the drum controller 60 moves from one positionto the next, a new circuit is established from the contact segments 95and 119a, through control finger 120, conductor 121, actuating coil 3aof my relay device and conductor 122 to the negative conductor 117. Aspreviously explained, the combined action of the coils 3a and 4t is suchas to raise the movable core member 12 to its uppermost position,Wherein the contact disk 16 bridges the contact fingers 29 and 33 ofFig. 2.

Such movement of the relay device closes a holding circuit that isestablished from conductor 116 through conductor 123 actuating coil 3?)of my relay device, 0on

ductor 124:, contact disk 16 in its upper-' most position and conductor125 to the negative conductor 117.

Consequently, the relay device is maintained in its upper position toprevent the bridging of the con-tact die]; 25 by means of the contactdisk 16 even though the pushbutton 61 is: maintained depressed. Thecircuit of the second lifting coil 8a is interrupted inst before thedrum controller 60 reaches its next operative position, but theenergization of the holding coil 36 is main-. tained as long as therelay device occupies its upper position, that is, as long as thepush-button 61 is depressed.

It will be understood that the proportion and arrangement of parts is:such that, once movement of the drum controller 60 from one position tovthe next is begun, this movement will be carried on as far as the nextnotch, under all operating conditions. This movement is, of course,preferably emphasized or'ensured by means of the customarily employedpawl-and-star-wheel device (not shown).

To restore the circuit conditions to normal, the push-button 61 isreleased, thereby de-energizing the coils .8 0 and 4:. Consequently, thecontact disk 16 drops to its intermediate open position, and further operation of the controller 60 is again governed by means of the limitswitch or current relay coil 5, as previously described.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details,circuit conections or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as variousmodifications thereof may be effected within the spirit and scope of myinvention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beimposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of separately and relativelymovable alined core members a plurality of coils separately acting atpoints respectively above and below the magnetic center of one of saidcore members, another coil for, actuating another core member, and asingle contact member adapted for independent actuation by said coremembers.

2. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of separately and relativelymovable alined core members, a main-circuit coil for actuating one coremember, a plurality of auxiliary-circuit coils separately acting atpoints respectively above and below. the magnetic center of another coremember, and a single contact member adapted for actuation by said coremembers,

3. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of separately and relativelymovable alined core members, a plurality of; concentrically-wound coilsadapted to act upon one of said core members, another coil adapted toact upon said core member and disposed in end-to-end relation to saidconcentrically- Wound coils, and another coil for actuating another coremember, and a single contact member adapted for actuation by said coremembers.

l. Control apparatus comprising a. plurality of separately andrelatively movable alined core members, resilient means for supportingone of said core members, certain of said coils being adapted to attractsaid core in opposite directions, another coil for actuating anothercore member, and a single contact member adapted for actuation by saidcore members.

5. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of separately and relativelymovable alined core members, resilient means for supporting one of saidcore members, a plurality of coils separately acting at points in onecore member respectively above and be low the magnetic center thereofand jointly acting at a point above said center, another coil foractuating another core member, and a single contact member adapted foractuation by said core members.

6. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of separately and relativelymovable alined core members, actuating coils therefor, and a singlecontact member indcpendently actuable by said core members.

'7. Control apparatus comprising a plural ity of alined movable coremembers, actuat ing coils therefor respectively adapted for main-circuitand for auxiliary-circuit connection, and a single contact memberadapted for independent actuation by said'core members,

8. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of alined movable coremembers, a contact member loosely mounted on a. portion of one coremember, and means operated by another core member for actuating saidcontact member.

9. Control apparatus comprising a plurality of alined movable coremembers, a rod secured to one core member, a contact member looselymounted on said rod, and a sleeve enclosing a portion of said rod andoperated by another core member for actuating said contact member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day ofJune,

WALTER H. SMITH.

